WindowFX 3 released

That gaming video card can do some good on your desktop too...

from GalCiv2 Forums

Stardock has released WindowFX 3.0.  WindowFX adds special effects "fx" to your Windows experience.  Effects include shadows under windows, min/max/close/open animations, window dragging effects, window scaling, window tiling, alt-tab task switching options, taskbar preview thumbnails, and much more.  WindowFX when combed with WindowBlinds can give your Windows XP system a next-generation Windows look and feel. The two complement each other (and are developed by the same team within Stardock).

WindowFX 3 takes advantage of your video card to provide the effects without losing down your computer.  Stardock does caution that it does require a reasonable good video card with modern drivers to get the most out of.  WindowFX is, bar none, the most advanced visual enhancement utility for Microsoft Windows. No other program comes even remotely close to what it can do. 

You can download it right now for free and see for yourself.  The full version of WindowFX is $19.95 or can be purchased with Stardock's Object Desktop which is $49.95 and includes WindowBlinds, IconPackager, WindowFX, DesktopX, RightClick, SkinStudio, IconDeveloper and much more.

WindowFX's home page:
https://www.stardock.com/products/windowfx

Screenshots:
https://www.stardock.com/products/windowfx/screenshots.asp

18,039 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Looks good! There are some nice features that work very well on the screen. I am amazed at how little an amount of system resources the program uses!
Thumbs up Stardockians for this one
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How much are they paying you to subject your gamers to this blatant advertising in what is essentially meant to be a news space, just out of interest?
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well considering the program is made by stardock and this is a stardock website, I'd say they aren't paying themselves anything.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

How much are they paying you to subject your gamers to this blatant advertising in what is essentially meant to be a news space, just out of interest?
 

Since I am the Project Manager of both Galactic Civilizations II and WindowFX, nothing.

Object Desktop users were "subjected" to lots of GalCiv II promotion. And it was sales of Object Desktop programs (such as WindowFX) that paid for development of the game. 

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Alright then, that sounds reasonable, actually... fans of the game probably owe it to stardock to check out WinFx.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

How much are they paying you to subject your gamers to this blatant advertising in what is essentially meant to be a news space, just out of interest?


I am just going to roll my eyes and look at the stars hoping that a Good Drengin will aim his Death Star at you and suddenly there will remain only silence!!!!
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Honestly, I've got lost trying to understand what exactly comprises that Object Desktop. Fifty bucks does look a reasonable price (assuming that's a "household license" and I won't have to pay separately for every computer, am I right, BTW?) but it looks like at least some of the components have several different versions and it's not clear which one is included with that 50 bucks package. For example, SkinStudio is listed among components twice — as Standard and Professional versions. The latter mentions Object Desktop Professional that is nowhere found on your site. Does it mean it is now a part of the "regular" Object Desktop? Or does it mean I would have to pay extra 30 bucks on top of 50 bucks for Object Desktop just to be able to skin WMP? And what other components would come as a scaled down versions compared to all their advertised glories?

In particular I'm interested in DesktopX Professional. It's obvious it isn't a part of Object Desktop since it costs more than Object Desktop, but what about Object Desktop Professional (if it does exist)? And in any case is it possible to upgrade somehow from "regular" DesctopX to Profession without having to pay the full price?

Also it looks like you offer some other desktop enhancement programs that aren't part of the Object Desktop. What is rather awkward. Well, some of the seem to be free but it is still unclear whether I'd get them automatically with Object Desktop or I'd have to hunt for every one of them separately. Yet some other aren't free and the do look like scaled up versions of Object Desktop components. in particular, ObjectDock is obviously a replacement for Tab LaunchPad that is described as "one of Object Desktop's most popular features." So once again we have a case of selling of scaled down versions in a cheap package meant to be a kind of teaser to by the really good expensive stuff.

What brings us to a question: do you have a subscription package that includes ALL of your desktop enhancements — past, present, and future, with no exceptions like "this one we're particularly proud of so we're charging extra for it" — for a fixed annual price? And if so, what is this price?
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
don't have time to research this question myself; watching this list as a reminder to do so when i get back to town.

would these programs support a graphical overhaul at startup? think about the way the laptops looked starting up in the movie Hackers. to paraphrase Dane Cook, "why not me? i want that."
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
curiosity about this stuff led me to bootskin (i did have time to research it). free for non-commercial use.

for more times than i can count now, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

this makes me want to buy more of your not-free stuff, purely as a gesture of gratitude.